News

Plans for Hook development go on display

VILLAGERS have been taking a look at plans for another small housing estate earmarked for the outskirts of Hook.

As reported in The Gazette, Charles Church Homes Southern wants to build 48 homes on a greenfield site off Hop Garden Road, on the western edge of the village towards Newnham.

The proposed site is close to a field where developer Taylor Wimpey wants to build 60 homes, with access from Brown Croft.

Last Wednesday, the developer put its plans on display at Elizabeth Hall, in Raven Road.

More than 100 people came to look at sketches of the plans, which stated the estate would have an access road from Hop Garden Road and would be centred on a square.

Douglas Bond, of Woolf Bond Planning, acting on behalf of the developer, told The Gazette that a planning inspector had ruled the site suitable for development in the mid 1990s, despite being a greenfield site and beyond the settlement boundary.

He added: “Almost 20 years later, we believe there is a need (for new housing) and we are proposing 48 dwellings, of which 40 per cent would be affordable housing.

“I think it’s fair to say that some residents accept the need for more housing in Hook and can see the merit in the proposal, but there are also others that have concerns as well.”

Among those looking at the plans was Nick Charles, who lives in nearby Newnham Park. The 53-year-old trade advisor questioned the need for more housing. He said: “Once we give up on a greenfield, we will never get it back again. These are really big decisions.”

Bruce Bomphrey, 55, said he was concerned of the effect of added traffic in Newnham Lane, near the development site.

He said: “The traffic down there is about as much as we can take and it’s already dangerous and cars are speeding there, especially in the morning.”